Natural or synthetic molded or natural or synthetic covered metallic flush type topping-off valve



Aug. 27, 1957 J. 0| GEAMBEARDINO E! m. 2,804,085 NATURAL 0R SYNTHETIC MOLDED 0R NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC COVERED METALLIC FLUSH TYPE TOPPING-OFF VALVE Filed'Nov. 4, 1954 United States Patent O NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC MOLDED R NATU- RAL 0R SYNTHETIC COVER D METALLIC FLUSH TYPE TOPPlNG-OFF VALVE John Di Geambeardino and Bernard R. Silverman, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 4, 1954, Serial No. 466,957 1 Claim. ((31. 131-223) (Granted under Title 35,, U. S. Code(1952),, sec. 266) This invention described herein may be manufactured by or for the, Government of the United'States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties. thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a valve for use in inflatable, flexible life rafts and the like and particularly relates to the so-called topping-0E type-of valve which is adapted tobe used as either a venting device or a filling device and-.whichalso may be used to form a fitting for attaching a hose to the raft.

This disclosure is related to that in our co-pending application Serial No. 347,423, filed April 7, 1953.

Heretofore, the type of valve with which this invention is concerned comprised a metal valve body which extended above the skin of the raft and which required a chain or other such means for holding it attached to the raft when it was in its fully opened position. The exposed metal valve tended to abrade the surrounding areas of the raft by constant frictional contact between the two, while the chain was always in danger of tearing loose or ripping the fabric of the raft to which it was attached. Furthermore, the constant exposure of the metal parts resulted in the formation of dirt and salt deposits on the valve and in many cases also resulted in rusting of the valve parts.

It was sought to alleviate some of the defects outlined above by covering the exposed valve structure with a rubberized fabric patch similar to the material of which the raft itself was formed. However, this was a clumsy make-shift expedient which still fell short of completely solving the problem, especially insofar as concerned the abrasion caused by the frictional contact between parts.

It is one object of this invention to provide a valve structure for an inflatable life raft wherein no part of the valve is normally exposed overthe skin surface of the raft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve for inflatable life rafts wherein the valve body is, at all times, attached to the raft without the use of any chains, ropes, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve for inflatable life rafts wherein all the metallic parts of the valve are protected from exposure to the elements.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation along the line 11 of Figure 2 to show the internal construction.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the valve device embodying the invention, showing it attached to the fabric of an inflatable life raft.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a portion of an inflatable life raft 10 wherein the life raft is constructed of a rubberized fabric material.

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An opening is formed in the skin of the raft and in this opening is provided a cylindrical body 12 from which extends a ring-like sealing flange 14. The body 12 and flange. 14 are integrally formed of a resilient material such as rubber or the like. It is, to be noted that the portion of the raft 10 which surrounds the valve opening is concave or dish-shaped as at 16 and that the. flange 14 which is radially tapered from a broad base adjacent the center thereof to a relatively narrow periphery, fills the concavity formed by the portion 16 in such a way that the top of; the flange 14 lies in the same horizontal plane as that part of the raft which lies outwardly of the dish-shaped portion 16. The. body 12 and flange 14 are attached 'to the rubberized fabric of the raft 10 by any convenient means such as by cementing.

The body 12 is formed with an axial opening 18 which connects, with a smaller co-axial opening 20 formed at the bottom ofthe body-12 by a lateral flange. 22 projecting radially inward from the body. A counterbore 24 at the top. of the body forms the central opening of the ring-likea flange 14.

Molded: or otherwise mounted in a fluid tight manner in the axial opening of the, body 12 is a. metal sleeve 26. The sleeve is internally threaded as at 28 and is provided with an enlarged portion 30 at bottom providing an annular recess 32. The portion 30 is molded within the body 12 to give added strength. Fitted within the sleeve 26 adjacent the upper end thereof is a snap ring 34 mounted in the groove 36 formed in the wall of the sleeve.

At the bottom of the sleeve 26 is formed a radically inwardly extending flange 42 which overlies and is joined to the flange 22 of the body 12. Over this flange 42 is provided a resilient sealing 44 which forms a seat for the valve body or core 46.

The valve body 46 comprises a hollow, cup-shaped, cylindrical portion 48 having a bottom wall 50 and a plurality of openings 52 on its periphery adjacent the bottom wall thereof. A peripherally threaded flange 54 extends from the periphery of the valve body immediately above the openings 52, this threaded flange mating with the internal threads 28 of the sleeve 26. Internal threads 56 are also provided in the valve body, and on the top of the body is provided an operating handle 58 integral with the valve body, this handle having a resilient covering 60 of rubber or the like in overlying relationship thereto.

In operation, when it is desired to vent or bleed the air or other fluid from the inflatable raft, the handle 58 is operated to lift the valve body 46 from the seat 44, thereby allowing the opening of a fluid passage through opening 20, holes 52 and through the open cavity of the valve body. This passage is also opened in like manner to allow the entrance of fluid into the raft. The internal threads 56 of the valve body are provided for the purpose of coupling the threaded nozzle of a hose or the like to the valve.

It can be seen that in its normally closed position, the valve is completely positioned within the confines of the body 12 and that whatever metallic parts of the valve structure are exposed are substantially covered by the molded resilient material. This construction not only prevents exposure of the valve structure to the elements but allows the use of relatively inexpensive metals in the construction of the valve since the anti-corrosion properties of the metals are not an important factor. Furthermore, there is no likelihood of abrasion and tearing between the valve and the surrounding areas since the body 12 and its flange 14 act as a cushion between the valve 0 and raft.

being adapted to abut against the stop, acts to limit the i upward movement of the valve body.

The lugs 15 are provided for several reasons, one of which is to keep the bottom of the valve spa ced from the bottom of the raft when the raft is in collapsed condition for storage. This is so as to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the opening 20 which might result in tearing the fabric of the raft when it beginsto be inflated and the valve is pulled away from the bottom wall of the raft Another reason is to keep a passage open to allow the entrance of the fluid for inflatingthe' raft.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible inthe light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced otherwise then as specifically described.

What is claimed is: p

A valve comprising a resilient body with flat upper and bottom surfaces, the side walls of said body being in part frusto-conical and in the remaining portion cylindrical in form, the base of said frusto-conical section being adjacent the flat upper surface, an axial passage through said body, an annular. recess adjacent the cylindrical section; a countersunk recess in the upper surface and adjacent the conical section, a sleeve mounted entirely within said passage, the upper surface of said sleeve being flush with the bottom of said countersunk recess, an annular flange on said sleeve, said flange being disposed in said recess, a valve seat formed in said sleeve, an axially recessed beneath the upper surface of said body when said valve member engages said seat, resilient means encompassing said flange, proximately flush wtih the said latter means being apupper surface of said body when the valve member abuts the valve seat, said valve member flange and covering being spaced from the walls of the countersunk recess to permit manual manipulation of said flange, a plurality of ports in the wall of said valve member in the section opposite said valve member flange, and a plurality of resilient lugs extending from the bottom cylindrical section of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Williams -May 3, 1938 Hasselquist Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 12, 1938 Belgium Apr. 30, 1953 

